If you want to be healthy, but don’t enjoy eating spinach in a salad or any other regular form – this healthy blended drink recipe may be just what you need. After having a few health problems, I decided to incorporate spinach and other healthy vegetables into my diet. The best kitchen product I purchased was the Ninja – it really pulverizes things so you can make extremely healthy drinks without any chunks in them.

So, this recipe has three main ingredients – and the rest are up to you. The spinach is number one, and the juice of a fresh lemon is number two, with cranberry (or any other type) of juice as the third. The lemon really cuts through any flavor that the spinach may have had. It balances it all out and really rids you from having to taste the spinach you’re drinking down.

Main Ingredients

• Fresh Spinach Leaves
• Fresh Lemon Juice from one Lemon
• Juice, cranberry or any juice you prefer

Directions

Wash the spinach leaves and place in blender (I use the Ninja Chopper), then squeeze juice from one lemon into the blender. Don’t go overboard and use two lemons, as the the sour taste is too overpowering and one is just enough.

From here, I add some frozen fruit. In the photo below you will see some berries. If you stick with just strawberries, the color of your drink will be more of a reddish color. With the drink pictured below, I used a variety of berries and the color of the drink reflected that. For me, it doesn’t bother me but some kids may not appreciate the color – so you may want to stick with just strawberries. Also, add some juice. Generally, I add a little fresh squeezed orange juice and a decent amount of cranberry juice. I only make two small servings of this at one, so I only use about one cup of juice.

Lastly, blend it up really well and serve! My son is who inspired me to start drinking these, as I let him choose the ingredients and make it for us the first time. I drink one of these at least one every other day – and I feel wonderful afterward!

Note: It also tastes pretty darn good! You’d be surprised how refreshingly wonderful this drink is! I wouldn’t make it if it didn’t taste good!

This is the best homemade everyday cleaning spray – it’s safe, highly effective with killing germs and leaving surface shiny and clean – and it’s cheap! What is the mystery product? Vinegar!

All you need to do is buy a spray bottle from the grocery store, buy a bottle of vinegar and fill up the empty spray bottle half way with the vinegar, and half with water. That is it! The first time I read about using vinegar as a cleaning agent, I bought the spray bottle and tested it out on my counters. It made the counters cleaner and shinier than any household cleaner I had purchased before.

I then realized something – as the scent of the vinegar triggered past memories. I was a janitor years back at a hospital and that is the cleaner we used to disinfect all the clinic rooms. So, you know the stuff has to be good if it’s used to clean hospital rooms. Since it is safe, my son can also use it to help me clean – which is a great thing!

I can’t tell you how much money you’ll save by using this – but it is a lot of money. Some people buy $4 or $5 cleaning sprays and go through them very quickly – buying a big jug of vinegar at the store will last you quite a long time, and only costs about $2.

I was watching Chopped one evening and saw a contestant make something that looked like fried doughnut holes – he called them beignets, which are similar to doughnuts and originate in France. When I saw this on Chopped, he made it look so easy – I wanted to create something similar. I searched online and saw many recipes, most of which were extensive, long and time-consuming. I wanted something that wouldn’t take so much time, but would taste incredible. This is it – the best healthier than normal doughnut hole recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients List:

• Instant Pancake Mix (any brand that only requires you to add water or milk) – 1 cup
• Cinnamon & Sugar – 1/2 cup to 1 cup
• Milk – 2/3 cup
• Vegetable Oil (for frying)

Step 1. Heat Oil in Pan

Heat oil in a pan at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The deeper the pan, the better – it helps to have a deeper pan to avoid oil from splattering. I personally use my Thai Wok and it works wonderfully well. I put about an inch to two inches of oil in the pan. While it is heating, you can prepare the doughnuts.

Step 2. Instant Pancake Mix

Get out a bowl and measure about a cup of the Instant Pancake mix with about 2/3 cup of milk (I use skim milk). If it is still too sticky, add a little more pancake mix and drop it onto a floured surface.*Optionally, you may want to add a tablespoon of sugar to this mixture if you want to sweeten it up a little bit. For me, the flavor is excellent with or without the added sugar.

Step 3. Prepare Cinnamon & Sugar

If you have a brown paper lunch bag, take it out. Grab your cinnamon and sugar and mix it into a bowl to the desired ratio (or use a pre-mixed cinnamon and sugar shaker). Pour the mixture into the brown paper bag. You should have at least 1/2 cup to one cup of the mixture. If you do not have a brown paper bag, you can use a large (or small) Ziploc bag – whatever you have on hand. Once prepared, set aside.

Step 4. Form Doughnut Holes & Drop in Oil

Form the doughnut holes by hand at about 1/2 inch to one inch thickness – I recommend not making them any larger than that as they grow in size significantly. If you make them much larger, you have a higher chance of them not cooking thoroughly and being doughy in the inside. For the amount of pancake mix used, you should be able to make about 10-12 doughnut holes. Drop the doughnut holes into the hot oil – test one out by itself first to be sure the heat is ok on the oil. If it immediately turns dark brown, turn the heat down and wait a bit before putting all the doughnut holes on. Once ready, put them all in the pan (carefully with a large spoon) and turn them constantly. Do not leave the pan for even a minute, as they will not be evenly cooked and will not turn out properly.

Step 5. Remove & Shake in Sugar

It should take about 4 minutes more or less to fry the doughnut holes. If you can safely remove one, cut it open and check if it is done, that is recommended. Then remove the rest and set them on a plate lined with a paper towel. They will be a golden brown color. Drop them into the paper bag or Ziploc with the sugar, shake it around and coat completely. Serve Immediately!

If your child loves trains, this is an incredible gift to give him/her – a custom-made train table. You can surprise your child with this awesome gift, or let him/her help you build it. It is easy to build and kids absolutely love it. As my son’s fixation on trains lasted for more than two years (and still going strong), I decided to look online to either purchase a train table for him or find a good plan that I could do myself. I looked around and did not find anything appealing – all the tables I saw that offered plans online were small, awkward looking and seemed difficult to build. The train table plans I saw online were also expensive – to purchase both the plan and the materials.

So, I knew what I wanted and asked for a generous family member to help me – teach me how to create the table and later create a plan out of it. He is a skilled builder and I wanted the plan to be something that anyone could afford and anyone could put together, in just hours for less than $30 (more or less, depending on where you buy materials). So, I hope you enjoy this free train table plan. I want to say, the full plan is also available in PDF format and I sell it on my train table plan website if you want to get the full version (with more visual graphic guidance and photos) – it is only $5.97.

Parts List:

• One 6 ft. by 4 ft. piece of plywood 5/8 in. thick, finished on one side
• Four 2 x 6 x 24 in. lumber for the legs
• Two 2 x 6 x 36 in. lumber for the leg cross-members
• One quart of paint, your color choice (we used Cilantro Green Satin Finish)
• One 1 pound box #6 by 2 ½ in. deck screws (or 24 screws total)

Tools List:

• Jigsaw
• Battery Drill Driver
• Sanding Block
• Tac Cloth

Notes:

Building the train table can be extremely inexpensive and simple for beginners. The entire project should cost about $30 (more or less, depending on the store you purchase the parts from). The table in the plan is quite large and can be used for many years and for other purposes (ie: car setups, an art table). It is also possible to use this plan to create your train table in a smaller size. The size and color you choose depend on your preferences. This project can be done in one day.

Step 1. Cut Hole In Center

Cut one 20 in. diameter hole in the center of the plywood. The table created in the image above had a 22 in. diameter hole, and is large enough for two children to play in the center. You can create the hole larger or smaller, according to your preferences.

• If unsure how to create a perfect hole in the center of the plywood, then start by putting a nail in the center of the plywood. Then, take a pencil and tie a string around it (we used thick fishing line).
• Wrap the string around the nail so the string is 10 inches long. Then take that pencil which is connected to the string and the nail in the center, and pull around while drawing a line to create a perfect circle in the center.

Drill a hole somewhere along the circle, so that you can easily insert the saw blade in to cut the circle. Then follow your pencil lines to cut the circle out.

Step 2. Cut Rounded Corners

Use a one-gallon paint can (or whatever you have available, ie: plate) to create an arc at the corners of the plywood. Use a fine wood-cutting blade to cut the corners.

Step 3. Build the Legs

Take your cross-member (2 x 6 x 36 in.) and the two legs (both 2 x 6 x 24 in.). Place the cross-member on the ground, with the two legs placed on the outside of it. Center the cross-member at half the distance of the legs (one foot).

Screw the cross-member into the legs with three 2 ½ inch deck screws on each side. Repeat this for the other side’s legs and cross-member.

Step 4. Assemble All Pieces

Set the assembled legs with cross-members under the table. Space it so that the legs are about 5 ½ inches from the center hole. Then drill in three 2 ½ inch deck screws to secure each leg into place. (Photos with full train table plan are available for $5.97 here)

• Fill in any imperfections on the wood with wood filler, and also fill in the indentations above the screws.
• Sand all edges, and the areas that the wood filler was used on, and then wipe it down with a tac cloth (or towel).
• Paint the table and legs with your choice of paint. Let it dry for a few hours and add another coat of paint, if you like.

Your train table is now finished!  Enjoy!

This is the easiest, healthiest and cheapest biscuit recipe – for people who are busy and don’t want to buy Pillbury biscuit dough in a tube from the store. You’ll never need to buy that stuff again – as this recipe is really handy and can be modified to make a variety of other items. These biscuits also happen to taste just like the original Pillsbury biscuits, but do not have all the fat and are much healthier.

Ingredient List:

• 2 Cups of Self-Rising Flour
• 2-3 Tablespoons of Butter (I use “I can’t believe it’s not Butter”)
• 3/4 Cup of Milk (I personally use skim milk)
• Salt (*optional, may add a teaspoon or more for taste)

Step 1.

Grease a baking sheet (I use non-stick spray) and preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Put your flour in a bowl, and mix in the butter (softened or right out of the tub if using “I can’t believe it’s not Butter”). You can use the back of a spoon to try to really integrate the butter.

Step 2.

Pour milk into the mixture and mix well with a spoon. If mixture is too dry, add a little more milk – if too moist (then add a little flour). You will need it to have a consistency similar to what you would have if you bought the biscuits in a tube from the store.

Step 3.

Add some flour to your counter-top or area you are making this, and put your dough onto that surface. Flatten to about a 1/2 inch thick with a floured rolling pin or just by using your hands. You can use a round cookie cutter to cut out your pieces, then place them on the baking sheet.

Step 4.

Put the biscuits into the oven and bake for about 8-11 minutes. Keep an eye on them and check them around 7 minutes to be safe. Once they are a golden brown color, remove them and serve. They are great with a little butter or jelly.

Note: I make my biscuits quite small but they fluff up a lot. You may want to make them bigger or use a bigger cookie cutter than I did.

No ice cream maker or fatty ingredients are needed here! For those who are interested in having a healthy, delicious and easy-to-make ice cream recipe – this is it! It is so cheap, and so easy to make – don’t tell the kids and they won’t notice the difference!

Ingredient List:

• Some Overripe Bananas (the ones you see marked down in price at the store, usually used for baking)
• About 1/2 cup of lowfat or skim milk (this is used mostly to add a little liquid to get the blender going)
• vanilla extract (*completely optional and not necessary)
• Frozen or Fresh Fruits (*completely optional and not necessary)
• You will need a good Blender (I personally use the Ninja, and it works very well)

Step 1.

The most important thing is that you have some over-ripened bananas, take them out of the peels, break them into halves and put them in ziplock bags and let them freeze. Once frozen, you can move onto making this delicious fat free healthy ice cream recipe.

Step 2.

Once your bananas are frozen, you’re ready to make your ice cream. Technically, the bananas are the main ingredient and only really needed ingredient to make this ice cream. Personally, with the blender I use, I need to add at least 1/4 to a 1/2 cup of skim milk to get the blender moving. I take some of the frozen bananas (less is better at first – it really makes more than you think) and put them in the blender. I then add the skim milk and a dash of vanilla extract. If you want strawberry flavored fat free healthy ice cream, add some frozen or fresh strawberries and any other fruit you like.

Step 3.

Blend until the consistency is smooth and then serve! Your family will love it and you don’t need to feel guilty about eating a big serving of it! It’s extremely healthy and very refreshing!

Note: The only major difference besides the obvious health benefits of this type of ice cream, is that it melts quicker than regular fattening ice cream and probably could not be put into an ice cream cone for that reason.

Tip: Another excellent ingredient is frozen peaches.

If you’re interested in making your own laundry detergent from home – I have what I believe to be the best homemade laundry detergent recipe for you. I’ve tested out numerous ways of making laundry detergent from home – in both liquid form and powder form. The recipe for homemade laundry detergent here is all natural and my favorite recipe – it a powdered laundry detergent that will save you a lot of money each year.

Ingredient List:

• Borax (one 70 oz. box – only 55 oz. is used for this recipe) – Approx. Cost: $3.79
• Washing Soda (one 55 oz. box) – Approx. Cost: $2.50
• Zote (one 14 oz. bar) – Approx. Cost: $2.89
• Essential Oil Scent (*optional)

Total Cost: $9.18 for 124 ounces – a massive amount of laundry detergent (see below for breakdown of savings)

Where to Purchase the Ingredients:

Personally, I purchased all of these items in the laundry aisle at Woodman’s store in Wisconsin. I’ve also purchased Washing Soda and Borax at Walmart before – and most people live within a short distance from a Walmart. If you cannot find a bar of Zote soap, another recommended brand to use is: Fels Naptha – but I have not personally tried that kind yet. If you can, I highly recommend you use Zote, as it makes a major difference in the softness of your clothing. The first time I made laundry detergent, the recipe online that I found recommended any type of bar soap – so I used a cheap one that I had in the bathroom and the clothes felt dingy and stiff. The Zote majorly improves the texture of the clothes.

Step 1.

First, open up your bar of zote and if you do not have a blender, then you may need to use a cheese grater to grate it down into small pieces. The soap is rather soft, and if you have trouble grating it, then I recommend just chopping it up into small pieces – as small as you can make them. If you do have a blender, this step will be much easier for you. You will need to chop the bar of zote into uneven chunks or pieces. Then place them into the blender and grind them up as small as possible. Then pour into a bowl and set aside. You may notice it has a heavy scent and if you don’t like that, you can add some essential oil to the mix in the blender at this time. I thought the scent of the zote itself was overpowering, but once mixed in with the other ingredients it is subtle and very nice.

Step 2.

Pour the entire contents (55 ounces) of the washing soda into a bucket or large container. Then, pour most of the contents of the Borax into that bucket as well (I bought the borax in a 70 oz. box and estimated 55 oz. then poured it into the bucket, leaving behind some borax in the box to save for the next time I make laundry detergent). Mix the ingredients with a long wooden spoon or anything else you have handy.

Step 3.

Add the zote pieces (which should be about 3 1/2 cups of shredded pieces of zote) to the bucket with the washing soda and borax. You may need to really dig deep to mix it all up well. It is very powdery and if you like, you can wear a little mask. My 5-year old son pretty much made the entire batch last time – and he went into our first aid kit, grabbed a mask and mixed away. Once mixed fully, you can either leave it in the bucket or transfer to a plastic container of some sort. Personally, over winter I bought a plastic container with salt in it and with slots on the top for de-icing my driveway – I used the salt and washed out the container and the laundry detergent fits perfectly in it. You can see it in the photo below, although the top for the container is not showing, you can see how well the all of it fits.

Recommended Useage

I recommend you use about two tablespoons of laundry detergent for one average-sized load. For larger loads, you may want to use more. But the stuff is concentrated and very effective with two tablespoons.

Saving Money By Making Laundry Detergent at Home

If you want to know the approximate cost-per-load from your homemade laundry detergent – it is about $.07 cents per load. There are about 276 tablespoons in this batch of laundry detergent. If you divide it by two – you will have 138 loads of laundry with using two tablespoons of detergent at each load. The cost-per-load for All Fresh Rain – a normal or average product purchased from the store is about $.17 cents per load with a box that costs about $29.88.

Personally, I have two people in my household and I do about four loads of laundry per-week – that’s 16 loads per month. With my homemade laundry detergent, I should be able to do laundry for: 8 1/2 months!!! That is awesome! Just be sure to not over-use the stuff, as it is concentrated and some people have a tendency to pour a full cup or two in when it is not needed at all.